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Occidental Petroleum Corporation ( OXY) pushed the Basic Materials sector higher today making it today's featured basic materials winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 1.2%. By the end of trading, Occidental Petroleum Corporation rose $1.70 (2.2%) to $79.53 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5.8 million shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.3 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $77.85-$79.73 after having opened the day at $78.30 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $77.83. Other companies within the Basic Materials sector that increased today were: BMB Munai ( BMBM), up 29.8%, Entree Gold ( EGI), up 20.8%, HyperDynamics Corporation ( HDY), up 15.8%, and Alon USA Energy ( ALJ), up 12.7%.

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Occidental Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Oil and Gas; Chemical; and Midstream, Marketing, and Other. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has a market cap of $63.44 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 10.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 16.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Occidental Petroleum Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.